A call for a new kind of leadership in Nigeria took centre stage at the weekend in Lagos, as policymakers, academics and governance experts gathered for the launch of a book: “Leading at 27: How Young Leaders Can Change the World,” by Seyi Adisa.

The event brought together public figures, including the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Ambassador-designate to Austria, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, Vice Chancellor, First Technical University, Ibadan, Prof. Sola Ajayi, and former Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Toye Arulogun, among others.

Chairperson of the book launch, Florence Ajimobi, warned that a growing number of young leaders are stepping into positions of influence without the grounding required to sustain it.

The author of the book, Adisa, who once served as Principal Private Secretary to the late Abiola Ajimobi, traced the book’s origin to a conversation with a public servant on the brink of quitting due to burnout and frustration.

He said that while young Nigerians possess vision and capability, they are often thrust into complex systems without guidance.

The book, he said, was designed as a practical manual rather than a theoretical text, with frameworks and reflection tools to help readers navigate real-world leadership challenges.

Adisa also used the platform to introduce GLANCE—Governors, Leadership and National Civic Engagement—a network of campus-based clubs intended to scale leadership development across Nigerian universities.

The initiative, according to him, aims to equip 10,000 young leaders, each of whom is expected to mentor others in a structured model of peer learning and replication.

Also, Oduwole described Adisa as “a kindred spirit in public service,” noting his consistency and growth over the years.

“To step into public service at 27 and navigate it with humility and effectiveness speaks volumes. Seyi, I am proud of you. Your best is still ahead,” Oduwole said.

Dr Ini Abimbola, who delivered a strategic endorsement, questioned whether Nigeria’s leadership gap stems less from a lack of talent and more from a failure of preparation.

“We have the numbers, but we do not have the capacity. The missing are the structures, mentorship, frameworks, and honest conversations about what it truly costs to lead in a country like Nigeria,” Abimbola said.

On his part, a leadership expert, Fela Durotoye, challenged long-held assumptions about leadership itself, arguing that the crisis may lie in how it is understood.

“For decades, we told a generation they were the leaders of tomorrow. What that did was postpone their sense of responsibility. Leadership became something distant, something external,” Durotoye stated.

Also speaking, the Co-Founder of T & A Legal, Ayobami Tunde, commended the author for his passion, commitment, and transformational leadership, which are evident in the lives he has touched, both in private and public service.